O.C. Democrats cheer Obama victory; GOP to regroup

Mali Mosharaf of Irvine who has been living in the United States for 30-years from Iran celebrates at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa when Barack Obama was declared the winner of the presidential election minutes after the polls closed in California. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register

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Election Day in OC

For Democrats, the news tonight was all good.

"What an exciting time to be an American," said Wylie Aitken chairman of the Democratic Foundation of Orange County. "The fact that we elected this human being is going to bring our country together."

The polls had barely closed in California when Obama had enough electoral votes to be declared the president.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,'' the president-elect told thousands of cheering supporters in Chicago's Grant Park.

In Orange County, thousands packed the Sutra Lounge and exploded with joy when at 8:01 CNN put Obama over the top.

"Unbelievable," said Peggy Wilborn, a teacher, originally from Texas, who now lives in Mission Viejo. Wilborn, who is black, said she joined civil rights protests as a girl in Houston.

"Never thought I'd see the day," said her friend, Carolyn Avelino, a native of Hope, Ark. and now a resident of Orange.

A DJ started playing Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," an Obama campaign theme song, and the two friends started dancing with joy.

"Tonight," Avelino said, "We're gonna be girls gone wild."

The scene was somber and tearful at the Irvine Hyatt where Orange County Republicans watched McCain's concession speech.

"This is a historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight,'' said McCain, flanked by his wife Cindy, vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and her husband Todd.

The GOP faithful applauded when McCain thanked Palin. They were silent when the Arizona senator said Obama would have his support.

"We deserve this,'' said Margaret Cassell, an operations officer for a manufacturing contracting company from Fullerton. ///

Tom Lyons, a real estate appraiser from Fountain Valley, said McCain could have done everything right in the campaign but beyond the economy, it was the war in Iraq that dragged him down.

Orange County Republicans in recent days were pretty much resigned to losing the White House. And they are already looking to how to rebuild a party many GOP faithful say has lost its way.

Mali Mosharaf of Irvine who has been living in the United States for 30-years from Iran celebrates at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa when Barack Obama was declared the winner of the presidential election minutes after the polls closed in California. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register
Democrats, in foreground from left, William B. Jacobs, Victoria Maddock and Nancy Thompson rejoice as Barack Obama gives his victory speech Tuesday night. They celebrated his win at the Laguna Beach Democratic Club. H. Lorren Au Jr., The Orange County Register.
Barack Obama supporters pack it in at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa to celebrate his victory over John McCain in the 2008 presidential election during the Democratic Party of Orange County election night party. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register
Barack Obama supporter Victoria Maddock, Laguna Beach, is emotionally overcome with joy as she listens to his victory speech Tuesday night. She joined other local Democrats at the Laguna Beach Democratic Club election night. H. Lorren Au Jr., The Orange County Register.
Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) comes out to greet the crowd, along with his wife, Michelle and children Malia, 10, and Sasha 7, at his Election Night Rally in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois, November 4, 2008. Olivier Douliery, Abaca Press
CELEBRATIONCelebration breaks out in Laguna Beach Democratic headquarters as Barack Obama is declared the winner of the Presidential election as the polls in the West Coast close precisely at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. SAM GANGWER, THE REGISTER
<content><data format="text/xml">SKEPTICAL: A McCain supporter listens to John McCain concede the presidential race to Barack Obama Tuesday night. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
<content><data format="text/xml">NOT ENOUGH: GOP supporters watch John McCain concede the presidential race to Barack Obama at the Hyatt in Irvine Tuesday night. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
<content><data format="text/xml">NOT HAPPY: Leisa Kline of Orange, listens to John McCain concede the presidential race to Barack Obama Tuesday night. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
Obama supporters cheer as Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech the giant television screens at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa during the Democratic Party of Orange County election night party. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register.
Barack Obama supporters at the Democratic Party of Orange County election night party at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa watch Sen. John McCain concede the presidential race to Barack Obama. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, right, gets a double high-five from an enthusiastic Obama supporter at the victory celebration at the Democratic Party of Orange County election night party at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register
Barack Obama supporters celebrate at the Laguna Beach Democratic Club election night. H. Lorren Au Jr., The Orange County Register.
Democrat Kay Hagan celebrates winning a U.S. Senate seat for North Carolina in a race against Elizabeth Dole at the Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. TED RICHARDSON, MCT
President-elect Barack Obama, left, his wife Michelle Obama, right, and two daughters, Malia, 7, and Sasha, 10, wave at the election night rally in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. Jae C. Hong, AP
<content><data format="text/xml">PACKED HOUSE: U.S. Representative Ed Royce addresses the crowd at the GOP party in Irvine Tuesday. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
Obama supporters don t-shirts of the next president of the United States at the The Democratic Party of Orange County election night party at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa. Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register
<content><data format="text/xml">BIG SIGN: Caleb Moorlach, son of Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach, takes in the crowd at the GOP party in Irvine Tuesday night. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
<content><data format="text/xml">RALLY THE TROOPS: U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher addresses the crowd at the GOP party in Irvine. Rohrabacher successfully defended his 46th District seat in Huntington Beach. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
<content><data format="text/xml">CONCESSION SPEECH: Lily Kline, 2, of Orange, runs around while John McCain concedes the presidential race to Barack Obama Tuesday night. Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
A Barack Obama supporter at the No on 8 headquarters at the Laguna Beach Democratic Club election night. H. Lorren Au Jr., The Orange County Register.

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